Page 38 of Cruel Academy (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 2)

“It’s only the second day of school. There is no homework.”

Even as I say that, I can’t believe how little time has actually passed since my life turned completely upside down. It seems crazy that so much could have happened in two days.

I’ve already made enemies at Ravenlake Prep, Penny and Caleb being the most notable.

I have to deal with the sudden reappearance of my abusive ex-boyfriend who has been a ghost for the last three months.

And the only friend I have in the entire world might not be my friend anymore.

Despite sending her a flurry of three more texts filled with nothing but sad-face emojis, Estefania still hasn’t texted me back.

My mom frowns. “This is a private school. They haven’t assigned you anything to read yet?”

I shake my head, and her frown deepens. “What are we even paying them for?”

“I don’t know, but can I go?”

“Go where?” She throws a dish towel over her shoulder and crosses her arms.

I hold my arms out and gesture to my outfit. I’m wearing a pair of running shorts, a sports bra, and a paint-splattered T-shirt with the sleeves cut off. The holes are huge, showing off most of my sides, but it’s still more coverage than I usually wear on a run.

Typically, I only wear my sports bra, but after the way Caleb looked at me the other day, I don’t think that’s a good idea.

“Fine. Do you have your pepper spray?”

I twist my hips to show her the holster on my side.

“And your whistle?”

I grab the chain around my neck and pull the slender silver whistle from where it rests just beneath my collarbone.

My dad gave it to me when I first started running. Our old neighborhood wasn’t the safest place for a teenage girl to go running alone.

I highly doubt I’ll need it now that we are living in the Beverly Hills of Texas, but there’s no harm in being prepared.

“Okay, go.” She waves me away, but just as I’m about to pull the door shut, she grabs it and pulls it open again. “Oh, and Haley? Please keep away from the boys next door.”

I’ve managed to stay cool about all of the drama at school and with John when talking with my mom. If she knew what was going on, she’d be scared for me, but even worse, she’d be disappointed.

My parents know my academic performance wasn’t great at Public, but they don’t understand exactly what I was mixed up in. If I tell them the truth, it will crush whatever small amount of faith they have left in me.

As soon as my mom mentions Caleb, however—even if not directly by name—I can’t seem to control my body.

I cross my arms and shift nervously from one foot to the other, as though I’m jogging lightly in place.

As soon as I stop doing that, my arms uncross, and I begin fiddling with the rape whistle.

“Why?” I ask, before realizing that might be the wrong thing to say if I want to keep her from being suspicious. “I mean, I don’t even know them. Do you know them?”

She shakes her head. “I don’t know them, but you remember all of that stuff that happened over there last year.”

“Mr. Foster died,” I say. “And I heard at school that his son is living in New York.”

“I’ve seen his friends over there, though,” Mom says, leaning out of the door to look towards the house, though we thankfully don’t have a view of the front of the house from ours. We can only see the back corner and patio. “I just think it would be best if you stayed away from all of them. This is a new start for you, and I don’t want anything to distract you.”

Distract me from what, she doesn’t say, but I promise with a quick kiss on her cheek.

Then, I take off at a slow jog down the driveway and down the block.

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